Sasami: Magical Girls Club | |
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砂沙美☆魔法少女クラブ (Sasami: Mahō Shōjo Kurabu) | |
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Genre | Magical girl |
Created by | AIC BeSTACK |
Manga | |
Written by | AIC BeSTACK |
Illustrated by | Akimasa Mda |
Published by | Fujimi Shobo |
Magazine | Monthly Dragon Age |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | December 9, 2005 – April 8, 2006 |
Volumes | 1 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Yoshihiro Takamoto |
Produced by | Toshio Nakatani Yasuo Ueda |
Written by | Mari Okada |
Music by | Akifumi Tada |
Studio | AIC Spirits |
Licensed by | |
Original network | WOWOW |
English network | |
Original run | April 13, 2006 – January 11, 2007 |
Episodes | 26 |
Related series | |
Sasami: Magical Girls Club (砂沙美☆魔法少女クラブ, Sasami: Mahō Shōjo Kurabu) is a magical girl anime which features the rather familiar likenesses of Sasami and other characters of the Tenchi Muyo! franchise, specifically those of Pretty Sammy. However, this series is not in the same continuity as the Pretty Sammy anime titles. The animation style is different, and the story is set in an alternate universe.
Produced by AIC and BeSTACK and officially recognized as a Tenchi Muyo! spin-off, it is aired in WOWOW on Thursday nights, the show aired its first season from April 13, 2006 to July 13, 2006.
Also, the anime was produced in 16:9 widescreen.
On October 6, 2006, a second season had begun airing. Both seasons have now been licensed for a release in the U.S. by Funimation.
On January 12, 2009, the series made its North American debut on the Funimation Channel.[1]
Story
[edit]Sasami Iwakura has been endowed with magical powers since birth; but at age three, she is forbidden by her parents to use them. So she decides to keep her magical powers a secret. But at the start of a new term, she encounters the new transfer teacher, Washu and her pet Ryo-Ohki, and her life is about to change.
The first series/season is dedicated to character development as we are introduced to magic girls Sasami, Misao, Makoto, Tsukasa, and Anri. As the girls discover their awakening powers, they also learn a bit about themselves as they train with Washu and Daimon as part of their "cooking club." This culminates in their taking a trip to the magic world, where they compete against other magic squad teams, some having boys in them.
The second series/season is dedicated to plot, where Sasami's magic girl squad's activities have impressed the Chief Sorceress. As such, she wants those girls as part of her plan to change the human world (Earth), which she sees as too corrupt. The girls, especially Misao, must not only learn to master their abilities and magics, but also learn to face their own fears, lack of understanding, and the like as they walk a dark road set down before them by the Chief Sorceress.
This anime also features Misao (Shinohara) and Sasami's homeroom teacher Mihoshi.
Characters
[edit]Magical Girls Club
[edit]- Sasami Iwakura (岩倉 砂沙美, Iwakura Sasami)
- Voiced by: Mana Ogawa (Japanese); Alison Viktorin (English)
- Misao Shinohara (篠原 美紗緒, Shinohara Misao)
- Voiced by: Himeko Shimura (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)
- Makoto Hozumi (穂積 真琴, Hozumi Makoto)
- Voiced by: Momoko Hatano (Japanese); Cherami Leigh (English)
- Tsukasa Takamine (高峰 司, Takamine Tsukasa)
- Voiced by: Saharu Kawakami (Japanese); Brina Palencia (English)
- Anri Misugi (美杉 杏莉, Misugi Anri)
- Voiced by: Marin Funayama (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)
- Washu Kozuka (小塚 鷲羽, Kozuka Washū)
- Voiced by: Akiko Hiramatsu (Japanese); Luci Christian (English)
Supporting characters
[edit]- Ryo-Ohki
- Voiced by: Ema Kogure (Japanese); Z. Charles Bolton (English)
- Mihoshi (美星先生, Mihoshi-sensei)
- Voiced by: Hyo-sei (Japanese); Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)
- Daimon (大門)
- Voiced by: Masakazu Suzuki (Japanese); Mike McFarland (English)
- Ginji Iwakura (岩倉 銀次, Iwakura Ginji)
- Voiced by: Kenji Hamada (Japanese); Sonny Strait (English)
- Honoka Iwakura (岩倉 ほのか, Iwakura Honoka)
- Voiced by: Ruri Asano (Japanese); Amber Cotton (English)
- Sasami's mother. Though she barely knows what is going on, she is a good mother. She is named after Sasami Kawai's mom in Magical Project S
- Monta (もんた)
- Voiced by: Yuka Nishigaki (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English)
- Kozue Matsubara (松原 梢, Matsubara Kozue) and Chiaki Miyazawa (宮沢 千晶, Miyazawa Chiaki)
- Kozue Matsubara Voiced by: Aimi Yanagi (Japanese); Majken Bullard (English)
- Chiaki Miyazawa Voiced by: Natsuki Matsuzaki (Japanese); Kate Oxley (English)
- Itoki (衣斗紀)
- Voiced by: Mai Kadowaki (Japanese); Carrie Savage (English)
- Amitav (アミターヴ, Amitābu)
- Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum (English)
- Ayane Kijima (木島 綾音, Kijima Ayane)
- Voiced by: Yū Kobayashi (Japanese); Trina Nishimura (English)
- Chief Sorceress (巫女長, Chief Sorceress)
- Voiced by: Kei Kobayashi (Japanese); Caitlin Glass (English)
Music
[edit]- Opening: Sweet MAGIC (performed by Magical Sweets)
- Ending: Kirakira Days (Sparkle-Sparkle Days) (performed by Magical Sweets) (Season 1)
- Ending: Yuyake No Solitude (Sunset Of Solitude) (performed by Magical Sweets) (Season 2)
The opening and end themes were dubbed into English for Funimation's release of the series. The opening theme was performed by Lauren-Claire Poitevent while the closing themes were performed by Laura Wetsel.
The official anime soundtrack was released on CD in 2006 and includes the following tracks:[2]
- 01. Sweet MAGIC(TV size)
- 02. Determination (決意)
- 03. Chosen Girls (選ばれし少女たち)
- 04. The Approaching Wave( 迫りくる波動)
- 05. Witch Tower (魔女の塔)
- 06. Love Potion (愛の薬)
- 07. A Witch Is... (魔女は)
- 08. Magic Lesson (魔法のレッスン)
- 09. A Rising Negative Emotion (よみがえる負の感情)
- 10. Dark Sphere (暗黒の球体)
- 11. Happakappa ☆ SHUFFLE!
- 12. Solitude of Sunset (夕焼けのソリチュード) Instrumental ver.
- 13. Sudden Appearance (突然の出現)
- 14. Earth Song (大地の歌) Harp ver.
- 15. Run Away! (逃げる)
- 16. Sasami's Theme (笹見の歌)
- 17. Awakening of Destiny (運命の目覚め)
- 18. For Love (愛のために)
- 19. That's Hard Work (それは 大変)
- 20. Solitude of Sunset (full size)
Reception
[edit]Casey Brienza of Anime News Network reviewed the anime's first season, calling it an "inoffensive magical girl anime" and that the show's visuals are appealing, praised the show's character designs, and voice acting.[3] However, Bieza criticized the show for "An-An's puppy love infatuation with Tsukasa" saying it goes nowhere and is annoying, and called the soundtrack a "mixed bag."
References
[edit]- ^ http://www.funimationchannel.com/schedule/1_e90112.htm[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club: Witch Land- Soundtrack & Drama (JP Ver.)". YesAsia.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ Brienza, Casey (January 2, 2009). "Sasami: Magical Girls Club DVD - Season One [Review]". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Funimation's Official Sasami website
- Sasami: Mahou Shōjo Club (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia